Hi,my name is Alan Woodcock.I have been bird-watching in the area for nearly fifty years and (bird ringing)since 1980.I hope to keep up to date sightings of wildlife I have seen (mainly birds)with occasional diary entries of past times.

Monday, 29 July 2013

This morning I met up with Bob Bland and Pete Tyler in Lenham and from there we made our way to Dungeness via Romney marsh.On the marsh we had hoped to see Tree Sparrows or a possible Harrier but this morning the marsh proved to be very quite,the feeders at the farm holding just House Sparrows and a Great Tit,we did see a nice Green Woodpecker though.
On reaching Dungeness we met Trevor Maynard and Trevor Graves in the A R C car park and then we all made our way out to the Hanson hide seeing on the way,Reed Warbler,Sedge Warbler and small numbers of Swallow,Sand Martins and Swifts.Birds of note that we saw from the hide were (0900) - (100+) Lapwing,(5) Dunlin,(4) Wood Sandpipers,(3) L R Plovers and (1) B N Grebe.

Thursday, 25 July 2013

I had a walk along the track between Abbey Mead lake and the river this morning and I saw that Medway Valley Fisheries are now making inroads along the eastern bank of the lake,which is not good news for wintering wildfowl.I thought,seeing as its an SSSI,along with Abbey Mead meadow (Sunken Marsh),which I helped to create,along with a few others back in the 1980s,that at the very least the eastern bank would be left alone,so much for it being an SSSI !.We now have the prospect of cars being driven all the way around the lake.

Before anyone jumps in with why don`t you complain,I did all my wildlife campaigning in the area back in the 80s and 90s.

I did see one Common Tern flying over Brookland,as for Abbey Mead,I didn`t see one bird.

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Warm again,although a light overcast sky at times,mainly during the morning.

The plan today was to first visit Burnt Oak Wood,for its Butterflies (near Ashford),during the morning and then move down to Dungeness later.However when we arrived at the wood,although warm,the sky was still mainly overcast and consequently activity was very low.So only after about forty five minutes we decided to depart,make for Dungeness and come back later,when hopefully the cloud would have cleared.I did see a Spotted Flycatcher in the wood,my first for the year,so in some way it made up for the lack of Butterfly sightings.

At Dungeness it was also rather quite,although probably not for the same reason,the sea especially so.
The Little Gulls that were around last week,had all appeard to have gone and there was only a small number of other gulls and terns over the patch and on the beach.
Birds of note - Black Redstart (1),(Power Station),Common Sandpiper (1),L R Plover (1),Ringed Plover (3) and Marsh Harrier (1) (RSPB Reserve).We did notice on the reserve that wildfowl numbers have started to climb and Burrows Pit is looking good for some autumn waders,hopefully.
Although we knew a Great White Egret was in the Dengemarsh area,we decided not to go for it and made our way back to the wood,where indeed we found the cloud had cleared and activity was now quite high.

Burnt Oak Wood - Ringlet (10),Brimstone (4),White Admiral (6) and Meadow Brown (5).We had hoped to see Silver-washed Fritillary,but none were seen,Bob thought perhaps it was a little late in the season for them,or possibly none were present this year.

Sunday, 14 July 2013

Whilst I was at Bob Bland`s place in Headcorn.A Spitfire,presumably the one that had been flying over the Kent Show Ground,earlier during the day.Passed low over our heads at around 8:pm,just before it went down to roost for the night at Headcorn Aerodrone.

Monday, 1 July 2013

I went to Cliffe today with Bob Bland,Jeff Wynn and Trevor Maynard. The most notable species we saw being - Med Gull (1),Marsh Harrier (1),Avocets (200+),Black-tailed Godwit (200+),Green Sandpiper (1) and Greenshank (4).Good numbers of young Black-headed Gulls,Common Terns and Avocets were present on the islands.
In all I saw (51) species.

On the Butterfly front we saw singles of Holly Blue,Common Blue,Small Tortoiseshell and Large Skipper.